Martin Sexton w/ Matt Mackelcan

Martin Sexton may possess a phenomenal range whenever he lets his pipes loose, but the Americana singer-songwriter isn’t the showy type. There’s a humble heartland rock ‘n’ roll vibe to Sexton’s music, particularly 2000’s Wonder Bar. Sexton first earned his keep busking on the streets of Boston, and that spirit remains a major element to his music today. His understated arrangements skirt the line between folk and adult-pop, David Wilcox and Gordon Lightfoot. Sometimes, however, his voice can overshadow his fine, self-taught guitar playing, but what ties it all together is Sexton’s dynamism. He goes from a breathy James Taylor croon to a soaring falsetto seamlessly. It took Sexton seven years to self-release a proper follow-up to Wonder Bar — 2007’s Seeds, arguably his finest release. Following 2008’s acoustic live album, Solo, Sexton released Sugarcoating in 2010. Although it’s not Seeds’ equal, it’s a good album, from the country-tinged soul of “Long Haul” to the gospel flavors of “Always Got Away.” —Chris Parker FRIDAY